Tinsel Trading

Even though we live right outside New York City, sister #5 and I, the one with whom I share a love for art,  seem to manage to only go in together about once a year. We don't plan it that way, but it just seems to happen. So when we had the opportunity to go this weekend into the city and to one of our favorite places for artistic inspiration - probably THE favorite place - we were like eight year olds on Christmas Eve.

Here is my sis standing in front of a mecca for mixed media artists who love vintage stuff.

Why do we get so excited about this store?  Well, where else can you get ideas like this - lampshade frames turned into a giant sculpture:

The store is crammed with vintage trims, ribbons, millinery flowers, beading, tassels, and beautiful collectibles that sent my heart aflutter.

If the Wendy Addison art doesn't catch your eye, there's an entire wall of vintage ribbon. I'm hoping to float a subprime mortgage so I can afford some of it, with prices for these antique beauties starting at $25 a yard.

But, we weren't there just to buy, though we managed to not disappoint ourselves and to keep the recession at bay, we were there to take a class with the lovely Charlotte Lyons, shown here with her Bluebird of Happiness.

The class was held in The Shop Across the Street, part of the Tinsel Trading Emporium and I didn't dare look around at the entire wall of ribbons - everything from traditional grosgrain, embroidered, velvet, to giant rick rack. We were a small group that fit comfortably around a large table.  Introductions were quick and soon we all were comfortably sewing and gabbing.

We all agreed that these simple, little felt projects were the perfect thing to slow down a bunch of busy women and give them an afternoon of playing with ribbon and thread and working with lovely textures and bright colors. Friendships bloomed and business cards and blog addies were exchanged. It's so weird to go to these events and find yourself talking about the favorite blogs you have in common, and even odder is when total strangers know all about your life from your blog! 

Sister #5 is very pleased with her handiwork. Her bird is so sweet.

Behind her, is Terri Ventura , who organizes all the classes at Tinsel Trading. She made the cool necklace around her neck and you can see more of her work at  ABC Carpet & Home and on her etsy shop.

My little bird is getting ready to nest.

Charlotte is a lovely teacher and made us all comfortable with our "talents". Some of us were more crafty than others. Some of us sewed up her bird without any stuffing and had to make a cut in the back to add it in and then cover up the whole with a velvet leaf.....and then forgot to add the wire to the ornament. But otherwise, I had a great time and had a ball hearing about behind the scenes with "Carmen" from Project Runway, who Terri has met. It was the perfect antidote to a very intense work week.  When the class was over, The Princess and The Teen and The Teen Cousin picked us up and we headed off for some more city fun, but more about that tomorrow.